James, that’s the thing. People want to reduce screenwriting to formula. This paradigm or that paradigm.

There is Aristotle. Beginning. Middle. End.

Three Act Structure.

There is J. Campbell. Hero’s Journey.

A Protagonist has an adventure.

There is C. Jung. Become who you are.

The Protagonist’s outer journey is really an inner journey.

That’s it. That’s the essence of storytelling.

Yes, a screenplay is a unique story form. And it is about finding the structure. But none of it matters unless the writer engages the characters in a deep and meaningful way.

And if they DO that, I am confident the story structure will emerge from that process.

Character. Character. Character.

Immerse yourself in the lives of your characters and that leads to…

Plot. Plot. Plot.

End of sermon!